Contraceptives. Anyone?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I was on a low dose pill for 18 years with absolutely no side effects except regulating my periods and stopping the horrible cramps I suffered before that. When I turned 35 I stopped taking the pill and used a copper IUD even though I had never had children. They were able to use the smallest available and I loved it. I had minimal cramps while it was being inserted and then had mittelschmerz but no period cramping while it was in place. I had it replaced once and then switched to condoms before completing menopause. My favourite method was the IUD - easiest of all to maintain and it was 100% effective also with no side effects.

Edited August 15, 2008 by Kathryn41

[CaNdiD wiTcH 0]

I need to look into what Kiki mentioned and I am curious to hear what she says if she answers the question someone asked above, I cannot take any form of contraceptives that has anything in it so right now it is good old condoms for us...Unfortunately I am one of those rare cases where the pill almost killed me 8 years ago, it caused an auto immune reaction in my body, but I do not want to scare the OP...it is a very rare case scenario although it happens.

Also wanted to add that my hubby's cousin was on the shot and got tons of side effects, most eveident one...she gained over 50 pounds!! But that might have been extreme too.

Oh my! I guess, I would have to look more closely about what are the effects on me and be sure to ask my doctor if I would have weird feelings or reactions.. I heard some stories like what you said, the reason why I am a bit scared and posted this topic..

"It actually DOES matter when you take your birth control pills. Most birth control information sheets are attached to what the pills actually come in, and most all of them will tell you that you must take the pill at the SAME time EVERY day. The reason is that when you take your pill you are then putting the hormones in your body that prevent pregnancy. When you take the pill that day the levels of those hormones start out consistant and if you take your pill the same time everyday then there are no ups and downs of those hormone levels. If you forget to take your pill one day or wait past your usual time by even a few hours, those hormone levels will drop and could potentially cause you to ovulate (release an egg)which in turn if you decide to have sexual intercourse during that time you could become pregnant. Even if you forget to take it and remember a couple of hours later or even many hours later, you should still continue to take it. Just make sure that you are very careful when you have sex and keep in mind that by forgetting to take them at a set time or forgetting to take them at all, you are putting yourself at risk for pregnancy. Remember that the best advice will come from the inserts in your pill packets, do what they say and you should be fine." http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Do_you_have_to_t..._amount_of_time

I can say from EXPERIENCE.... waiting a 1/2 a day.. (forgetting) can cause enough flux that you can indeed get pregnant... that is how I got Pregnant when I was 18 with my eldest daughter. .augh...

and... please. note.. there are indeed serious complications connected with Birthcontrol...

Three years ago I almost lost that same daughter... due to her taking Depo.shots.. after being on oral b/c for 5+ years.. .. she DEVELOPED A BLOOD CLOT...

she was hospitalized.. they ran many tests... to determine why she developed a blood clot.. only thing that was reason.. was the Birthcontrol ...

She had a blood clot from her knee to her bellybutton.. .. she was on Cumadin for about 2 years.. .. finally been taken off that. thank god.. she was told that she did have a pulmonary emboli when it first happened... but they got it in time.. No One knows why her body responded to bc like this... .. every body has different responses to everyform of medications...

so ..

Please.. everyone.. dont take using B/C lightly.. .. everyperson has different experiences... for one.. a drug may be fine.. for another.. it could kill... so... just cause you think.. it may only .. prevent.. pregnancy.. .. it in fact could cause more...

be careful

I have read the papers attached inside the box. Read it carefully but still confuse and nervous about it..

I would never recommend the injection because it stays in your body for three months and if you have a bad reaction to them you can't get it out or stop it the next day like the pill. Also several of my friends have had the injection and I've only seen bad things happen with their bodies like bleeding for 6 months straight with sometimes black blood, and extreme mood swings and crying.

I would also never recommend implants. They are on the expensive side and sometimes the muscle can grow around them and it is very painful to remove them.

My mom had that injectables before and she experienced the same.. Much more, her skin became dry.

Edited August 16, 2008 by CaNdiD wiTcH

[CaNdiD wiTcH 0]

Minerva (IUD) and Nuva Ring both localize the distribution of hormones so it's not circulating throughout your body like an oral contraceptive.

In the past I've used Ortho Tri Cyclen. It's a daily pill that comes in a circular pack with three different color of pills. The blue pills are sugar pills just so you remember to take your pill each day. I've been on it three times in my life. The first time I was a teenage full of hormones and the pill made me extra emotional but my periods regulated. The second time was my mid 20's and I gained considerable weight from it. May also have to have been due to the female body stops growing at the age of 24 and you have to change your lifestyle to maintain your shape. But I am convienced the pill had something to do with kick starting the weight gain because in the same month I started the pill I gained 30lbs and the Docotor just keep repeating that like in disbelief. I still see his stunned face repeating the words while looking at the numbers, '30lbs, 30lbs, 30lbs in one month." He put me on a lower dose pill after that but it gave me headaches and made my legs ache like restless leg syndrome. The third time I took OTC was in my late 20's and I had no side effects. It is all based on the individual how they will react. Their personal development, their age, their chemical makeup, their genetics, their lifestyle all play into the factors.

For the next time I need a contraceptive I have done considerable research and I believe I am going to either get an IUD or use the Nuva Ring. Both you can take out at any time and the hormones are localized to only the region that needs them.

My OB said that I could experience nausea and headaches. I could drink a paracetamol or headache medicine if that happens and it would not affect the pills effectivity. I am more concern about the blood spots and the possible appearance of varicose veins..

[Hannah+Vito 0]

Minerva (IUD) and Nuva Ring both localize the distribution of hormones so it's not circulating throughout your body like an oral contraceptive.

In the past I've used Ortho Tri Cyclen. It's a daily pill that comes in a circular pack with three different color of pills. The blue pills are sugar pills just so you remember to take your pill each day. I've been on it three times in my life. The first time I was a teenage full of hormones and the pill made me extra emotional but my periods regulated. The second time was my mid 20's and I gained considerable weight from it. May also have to have been due to the female body stops growing at the age of 24 and you have to change your lifestyle to maintain your shape. But I am convienced the pill had something to do with kick starting the weight gain because in the same month I started the pill I gained 30lbs and the Docotor just keep repeating that like in disbelief. I still see his stunned face repeating the words while looking at the numbers, '30lbs, 30lbs, 30lbs in one month." He put me on a lower dose pill after that but it gave me headaches and made my legs ache like restless leg syndrome. The third time I took OTC was in my late 20's and I had no side effects. It is all based on the individual how they will react. Their personal development, their age, their chemical makeup, their genetics, their lifestyle all play into the factors.

For the next time I need a contraceptive I have done considerable research and I believe I am going to either get an IUD or use the Nuva Ring. Both you can take out at any time and the hormones are localized to only the region that needs them.

My OB said that I could experience nausea and headaches. I could drink a paracetamol or headache medicine if that happens and it would not affect the pills effectivity. I am more concern about the blood spots and the possible appearance of varicose veins..

i think when they talk about blood spots them mean what i talked about earlyier which is irregular bleeding like you are on your period but its very light and irregular. i only had it once for the reason i said before and the rest of the time the pill actually regulated them so they seemed normal.

once the doctor was convinced that it was the pill causing it she was fine and i didnt stop taking it just had to remember to take it properly and the spotting stopped.

[Nessa 23]

Hey now, are you dissing one of my favorite athletic events?

dear Big Agnes

It looks like you're in urgent need of sextherapy. that is just wrong, my dear, just wrong

[GiGii 4]

Also, if you have a family history of migraines, its best not to start b/c. They sometimes start migraines, and make them occur regularly. My own obgyn said she personally had to get off b/c due to this.

[Scott & Lai 12]

[GiGii 4]

OMG

[Nessa 23]

OMG

that was funny

[JVKn'CVO 11]

One word: IUD.

Why? Because it stays put for 5 years and you do not need remember to take anything

I had a friend that got one, and it made her periods very painful and heavy, to the point that she had to skip class (college) because of it, and eventually had to have it removed.

Also, I'd be scared of Pelvic inflammatory disease Has the risk of that gotten better?

For the next time I need a contraceptive I have done considerable research and I believe I am going to either get an IUD or use the Nuva Ring. Both you can take out at any time and the hormones are localized to only the region that needs them.

We are not really considering birth control at this time, but that's really interesting, thanks Olivia

NuvaRing

Saludos,

Caro

[Empress of Groovy 373]

Hey now, are you dissing one of my favorite athletic events?

dear Big Agnes

It looks like you're in urgent need of sextherapy. that is just wrong, my dear, just wrong

Hmm...you may be right.

I've been watching a lot of the Olympics. The regular Olympics, that is.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned that you shouldn't smoke if you're on the pill, esp. if you're 35 or older.

[msu17 0]

I've had no problems with the pill, been on it since I was 16. I actually lost weight when I went on it and could survive my periods, which I couldn't do before the pill. That being said, I worked at Planned Parenthood this summer, so contraception was a daily topic of discussion. Lots of women talked about both emotional and physical side effects. Primarily the weight gain. I don't have a problem taking them the same time of day as I go to bed at the same time each night, but you do need to make sure you can remember to take them each day at the same time. The pp I worked at didn't prescribe the patch anymore I believe because of an increased risk of blood clots, so I wouldn't recommend that.

Regarding the shot, lots of the girls that came into the clinic loved it. However, you must go in to your doctors at regular 3 month intervals, no skipping. For some people, that's a problem. My niece got on the shot and had a period the entire time. SHe HATED it, so again just the difference in people.

Most of the women I worked with used a non-hormonal IUD. It makes financial sense if you keep it in for 1 year or more. Cheaper than the pill at least. I think I will get a hormonal form of IUD once we have kids.

Pretty much its all just trial and error. The only thing mainly that will interfere with the pill are antibiotics, FYI

[Mags 112]

For those interested in IUDs there is a brand called Mirena which has a very low dose of hormones, is designed to stay put for 5 years but can be removed within months if the patient wants it, and the person does not have to have had children previously. Back in the day that was one of the requirements and was only prescribed to women who have had children.

And yes, some pills will lower your sex drive dramatically. You won't want to do anything no matter how sexually active you used to be. What sucks is that the only way to find this out is by trial and error.

Diana

Incorrect.

You would be hard pushed to find a doctor to put it in if you haven't had kids. The Mirena factsheet says it is recommended for women in stable relationships who have had children. The reason they prefer to insert it into women who have had kids is because their cervix has already been stretched and therefore it doesn't hurt as much during insertion.

Now it still hurts like a b!tch, so I'd dread to think how much it would hurt if a person hasn't had kids.

I have the paraguard IUD...copper, no hormones....good for 10 years. LOVE it......no fuss, no mess, no pills and when I had my daughter I got pregnant one month after having it removed. I really like it.

How did it feel having it put in?

Like a b!tch!

But in the long run, well worth it.

[envy_me 18]

The pill has been great...if you're concerned about gaining weight make sure you eat right and exercise. Yazmin is supposed to be great for keeping weight off, too.

i tried yasmin and i gained weight..

and right when im done with a pack, i feel depressed and irritated, so i stopped..

now im using diane35 from same manufacturer of yasmin..

i feel more comfortable with it, not much side effects like yasmin..

but im not sure if they have it here in the US..